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Weekly Guide：Week 58
February 14, 2021
Week 58 Day 1: Decline and Downfall ⇧ ⇩
Question
What were the fates of the kings of the north and south, Jeroboam and Rehoboam?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Ahijah foretold the disaster and downfall of the house of Jeroboam.
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He reigned for twenty-two years and Nadab his son succeeded him as king.
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Rehoboam, son of Solomon reigned in Judah for seventeen years. Judah did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
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In the fifth year of King Rehoboam, Shishak king of Egypt attacked Jerusalem. He carried off the treasures of the temple of the Lord and the treasures of the royal palace.
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Rehoboam died and was buried in the City of David. Abijah his son succeeded him as king.
Meditation: My Story
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Community - Prophet Ahijah pointed out to Jeroboam the consequence of his sin. Is there anyone in my life who can help point out my weaknesses? Have I listened to them?
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Integrity - Israel was strong while Solomon reigned but gradually declined in the hands of his son Rehoboam. How should I pass on the blessings to the next generation? How should I keep myself disciplined so the blessings passed onto me are not lost?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 2: Change of Dynasties ⇧ ⇩
Question
How were the thrones of Israel and Judah succeeded differently?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Judah in the south: Rehoboam’s son Abijah reigned for three years. He committed all the sins his father had done before him.
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Abijah’s son Asa succeeded him and reigned for forty-one years. Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord.
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Asa’s son Jehoshaphat succeeded him as king.
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Israel of the North: Jeroboam’s son Nadab reigned for two years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord, following the ways of his father and committing the same sin his father had.
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Baasha struck down Nadab, succeeded him, and killed Jeroboam’s whole family, as the Lord had spoken through his servant Ahijah.
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Baasha became king of all Israel in Tirzah, and he reigned twenty-four years. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord.
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Elah son of Baasha became king of Israel, and he reigned in Tirzah two years.
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Elah was betrayed and killed by Zimri, one of his officials. Zimri reigned in Tirzah for seven days. The Israelite army at war with the Philistines proclaimed Omri king over Israel. Omri laid a siege to Tirzah and Zimri set fire around himself and died.
Meditation: My Story
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Identity - Abijah committed all the sins his father had done before him; his heart was not fully devoted to the Lord his God, as the heart of David his forefather had been. Looking at these kings of Israel and Judah, what was more important in God’s eyes? Is my heart on myself or God?
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Integrity - Started with Jeroboam, the kingdom of Israel faced nonstop rebellions and killings. Judah was more peaceful in comparison. From verse 15:4 “for David’s sake the Lord his God gave him a lamp in Jerusalem by raising up a son to succeed him and by making Jerusalem strong” we can see that God cared for Jerusalem because of David. What blessings shall I leave for my descendants?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 3: Hill of Samaria ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did the history of Samaria come about?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned twelve years, six of them in Tirzah. He bought the hill of Samaria and built a city on the hill. Omri did evil in the eyes of the Lord and sinned more than all those before him.
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Ahab son of Omri became king of Israel, and he reigned in Samaria over Israel twenty-two years. Ahab did more evil in the eyes of the Lord than any of those before him. He set up an altar for Baal in the temple of Baal that he built in Samaria. Ahab also made an Asherah pole.
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Elijah said to Ahab, “there will be neither dew nor rain in the next few years except at my word.”
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Elijah was provided by a widow in Zarephath and he made her jar of flour and jug of oil never run out and brought her son back to life.
Meditation: My Story
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Integrity - What sin did Ahab commit that was more than all those before him? What idols are in my heart that are hard to remove? Let me pray to God to help me identify and remove the idols in my life.
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Integrity - What are the various ways God used to strengthen Elijah’s faith? In my journey of faith, do I have any similar experience as Elijah’s?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 4: Baal's False Prophets ⇧ ⇩
Question
How did Elijah defeat the false prophets of Baal?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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In the third year, the Lord told Elijah to present himself to Ahab to rebuke him for abandoning the Lord’s commands to follow Baals.
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Elijah battled the Baal’s false prophets on Mount Carmel. The false prophets were defeated and slaughtered.
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Jezebel wanted to kill Elijah. Elijah escaped to Beersheba in Judah. The Lord whispered gently to Elijah told him to go to the Desert of Damascus to anoint Hazael king over Aram, anoint Jehu son of Nimshi king over Israel, and anoint Elisha son of Shaphat from Abel Meholah to succeed Elijah as prophet.
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God had reserved seven thousand in Israel-all whose knees have not bowed down to Baal.
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Elijah called Elisha to follow him.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - What attributes did God display when he gently whispered to Elijah? How am I hearing God’s voice today?
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Identity - Elijah rebuked the people for wavering between two opinions: “If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him.” Am I wavering between two opinions and not following God completely?
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Fidelity - How did Elijah respond when called by God? How am I responding and submitting to God’s will?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 5: A Shallow Faith ⇧ ⇩
Question
How much did Ahab know God and How much faith did he have?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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The Arameans besieged Israel capital Samaria. A prophet came to Ahab and brought along God’s help. Ahab followed God’s command and defeated the Arameans to show them that God is a true God beyond all limits.
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Ahab’s pretentious use of mercy set free of the enemy whom God had determined to destroy and made Arameans a long-term threat to Israel. God sent one of the company of the prophets to rebuke Ahab and foretold him the consequence of his action. Ahab became sullen and angry.
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Ahab was obsessed with Naboth’s vineyard. Naboth feared the Lord and would not give away the inheritance from God. Ahab’s wife Jezebel who worshiped Baal devised an evil plan to frame Naboth and killed him. Ahab took possession of the vineyard.
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Prophet Elijah rebuked Ahab and announced God’s judgment on him. Ahab humbled himself before God, therefore, God delayed the disaster on his house to the days of his son.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - From the Aramean wars and Naboth’s vineyard, what can I tell about Ahab’s faith and his relationship with God? How was Ahab’s being sullen, angry, and humble after being rebuked by prophets different from David’s remorseful repentance? How have I repented? When have I just pretended to repent or when have I repented from my heart? How did either change my soul and my relationship with God?
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Integrity - From Ahab’s mercy of no principle for the Aramean king to his backboneless submission to Jezebel, what life’s integrity did he lack? Have I offended God to please others?
Prayer
Notes and Responses
Week 58 Day 6: End of Ahab ⇧ ⇩
Question
What was Ahab’s attitude toward God’s discipline for him?
Scripture Reading
Meditation: God’s Story
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By his own will, Ahab solicited Judah king Jehoshephat’s help to go to war against the Aramean. Ahab loved to hear the good prophecies but never listened to bad prophecies from the true prophet of the Lord and even put him into prison.
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The Lord made true the prophecy He put into the mouth of His prophet. Ahab died on battlefield, his chariot was washed at a pool, and the dogs licked his blood, as the word of the Lord had declared.
Meditation: My Story
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Walking with God - It might sound uncomfortable and piercing to the ears when God reminds us but the voice of Satan is always sweet like honey. How have I, in my experiences, distinguished the voice of God through circumstances and those around me from the sweet voice of Satan?
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Fidelity - Judah king Jehoshaphat repeatedly suggested Ahab to ask Micaiah of God’s will even though Ahab did no like him. However, Jehoshaphat did not attempt to persuade Ahab to submit to God’s will and continue to join Ahab in war. How may I faithfully serve God to the unbelievers and go beyond performing lip services?